Pilot light



Nov. 2 2,

J. A. THOMAS PILOT LIGHT Filled Feb. 23. 1926 ca/enfer Mimes o?. c70r11as ym/ywfllforfly Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES .LAMES ALFRED THOMAS, 0F ALBERT LEA, MINNESQTA. v

PILOT LIGHT.

The object of my invention is to provide p l vyoke 22 which is pivotally .mounted in the a pilot lightfor automobiles which is simple, durable and of construction.

More particularly my invention relates to a pilot light deeigned'to be supported on the brace between the two front head lights of an automobile. Y

A further obj ect of my invention is to provide such a light with an operating means consisting of a Vsliding rod mounted -on the frame of the car which will be quickly moved a predetermined amount upon the movement of the steering wheel in either direction.

Still a further object is to provide means for operating the light during the first por tion of the turning of the frontwheels and to then leave it in this position during the rest of the steering movement. l Withrk these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my invention, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully lset forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accom'anying drawings, in which: v

'Figure 1, is a plan'view of the front portion of an automobile showing my invention attached thereon `and having one of the fenders removed. y

Figure 2, is a side view of Figure 1.

Figure 3, is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views on the lines i-land 5%-5 of Figure 3. f Figure 6 is a sectionalview on the linel 6-6 of Figure 2. Y l l Y Figure 7, is a sectional view on the vline 7-7 of Figure 6, and

Figure 8, is a sectional view on theV line` 8-8 of Figure 2.v Y f n v On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the frame of an automobile. Y,

The hood l1, fenders 12 and fender aprons y 13 also form part of the automobile.

The head lig'hts 14V have a brace 15 extending from one headlight14 to the other directly in front ofthe radiator 16.

Upon the braces 15 I mount a bracket 17 in the following manner. i Y y A member 18 is secured'to thel bracket 17 and has' cupped ends 19 which fit against the brace and lare secured thereto by means of if' belts 2o.

rcomparativelyV inexpensive done.

Application filed February 23, 1926. Serial No. 80,015.

The pilot head light 21 is mounted in a Cross pieces 30 extend between the sides of the U shaped member 28`for holding the rod 29 in place. y Y

A rod 31 is adjustably received in the end of the rod y29 and extends to the bell crank 25 andis operatively connected thereto.

f' From the foregoing it will be seen that any sliding movement' of the rod l29 will through the rods; 31 and 26, the bellicrank 25 and the lever 24 cause pivotal movement of the pilot light 21. y

For operatively connecting the steering arm 27 of the automobile with the rod 29, I have provided a bar 32 p'ivotally connected to the arml V27 by means of a clamp 33. o

The bar 32 has a tongue 34 which is derod 29. y o For keeping the tongue 34 in engagement with the: notch 35, I provide a spring 36 sov signed to engage with a y,notch 35 in the` Y attached to the bar V32 and to a bracket Y,

extending from the U shaped member 28.

It will thus be seen that movement of the steering arm will cause the bar 32 to move longitudinallyvofthe automobile and by the tongue 34fbeing in engagement with the l notch*A 35,`wi1l cause the rod 29 to be slid between the U shaped member 28 and the cross pieces30. o v 5 In a device of this type it is desirable to turn the pilot` light quickly at the'beginning of the steering' operation ywhenV the driver turns to one side or4 the other vofthe road, and I'have so arranged my yparts that this is It isz furtherdesirable to turn it quickly Y in a desired `direction to a predetermined point and to leave it there during-.the restlof the turning operation. To acco'r'nplish this result,- :I provide notches 38 in thefsides ofv the U shape'dmember 28. rIfhis forms a Cani surface upon whichthenotches 39of the'bar 32 may travel;`

i During' the 'central portion lof the swinga ving movementl of Vjthe steering arm 27, the

notches 39 remainvin .thenete'h and the fr rod 29 is slid in its bearings until ythe notches 39 engage the inclined surface ll0 of the sides of the U shaped member 28.

rlhis disengages Vthe notch 85 leaving the rod 29 in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

Further movement of the bar 32 does not effect the position of the pilot light. The notches 39 continue to ride on the inclined portions l() and then onto the straight portions 4l .of the Vsides of the U shaped member 28 during further steering movement of the steering arm 27.

vWhen the steering arm' 27 is brought back toward its central position, the notches 39 will travel down the'incline surfaces 40 and the tongue 34 will reenga-ge the notch 35 for bringing the rod 29 also back to a central position. The same operation yoccurs when the steer* .ing wheel of the automobile is turned in the reverse direction .and the rod 29 is then slid forward Ainstead of backward, thus turning the light to the left instead ofto the right.

rllhe 'fingers l2 on the bar 32 prevent any displacement of the bar 32 relative to the L5 shaped member 28.

A. slight amount of play is allowed between the tongue 34 and the notch 35 so that the .pivotal movement of .the pilot light 2l is not affected when driving in a straight course. p

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a pilot light which is quickly turned to one side 4or the other of the road depending upon .the direction of rotation of the steering wheel of the automobile during the first part of such rotation.

Further rotation of the steering wheel allows the pilot light to remain in the turned position and it is quickly brought back to center when the steering wheel is returnedv to its initial position.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts vof my invention, without departing `from ythe real spirit and purpose4 of my invention, and it is my intention to cover lby my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents,which may be .reasonably included within their scope.

l claim as my invention. Y v

l; In combination with an automobile. a pilot'light therefor comprising a light pivot-- ally mounted, means for oscillating said light comprising a rod slidably mounted on the frame of said automobile andoperatively connected to said pilotv light, means for sliding said rod comprising a bar connected to the steering arm of said automobile and operatively engageable during a portion of its stroke with said rod and a spring for causingfsuch engagement and means associated with said 4second bar to cause its disengagement from said first bar during the remaining portion if its stroke.

2. In combination with an automobile, a pilot light therefor comprising a light pivotally mounted, means for oscillating said light comprising a bell crank and a rod slidably mounted on the frame of said automobile, said rod being connected to' said bell crank and a second rod for connecting said bell crank to said pilot light, means for slidinp` said rod comprising a rod connected to thek steering arm of said automobile, a tongue on the end of said bar for engagement with a notch in said rod whereby swinging movement of said steering arm will impart slidingniovement to said rod and a spring for causing such engagement.

3. In combination with an lautomobile having a brace connecting the head lights .thereof, a., pilot light pivotally mountedk on said brace, a rod slidably mounted on the frame of said automobile .adjacent the steering Varm thereof, operative connecting means between t said rod and said pilot light, a .bar pivoted to said steeringV arm and havinga tongue engageable with a notch in said ,rod whereby swinging movement of said steering armwill cause pivotal movement of said pilot `light and a cam surface adjacent said'rod Vfor causing said tongue to engage said notch through only a limited portion of the distance of the swing of said steering arm.l

4. in combination with an automobile, a

vpilot light therefor comprising a light pivotally mounted, means for voscillating said light comprising a rod slidably mounted on the frame of said automobile and opera-V tively connected to Vsaid pilot light, means vfor sliding said rod comprising a bar con-V nected to the steering arm of said automobile and operatively engageable `with said rod, cam surfaces adjacent said rod,y notches 1n said bar for travelonsaid cam surfaces, said cam surfaces being shaped substantially asl shown for thepurpose of preventing engagement of said bar with said rod except during the central portion of the movement of said steering arm and a spring for causing said notches to engage said cam surfaces.

5. A pilot light for automobiles compris-v ing a pivotally mounted light and a rod oper-V atively connected therewith, means Vfor imparting a sliding mor-rement to said rod comprising a bar connected. to the steering arm of the automobile and engageable with said red during a L portion of'` the `travel ofV said bar, a cam surface'engageable bysaid bar tor allowing engagement and disengagement of said Abar from said rvrod as the'bar .'ravels and a spring for holding said Ybar in engagement with said cam surface.

Des Moines. iowa, February 9, 1926..- JAMES ALFRED THOMAS. 

